Wrench



April 16, 1929. J. s. McKlaaoN 1309589 WRENCH l Filed llarch 29. 1928 Patented Apr. 116, 1929. j' i *UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE.

JOE S. I VICKIBBON, OF CULLEOKA; TENNESSEE.

WRENCH.

Application led March 29, I192,8. Serial No; 265,860. j

Other objectsof the invention will appear in the course of the following specification and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which representby way of illustration, oneform of construction cfa wrench according vto this invention.

In the drawings: Y

Figure 1 isa side elevation of the yimproved wrench, with portions broken away and sectioned to show the relationship of the respective parts.

Fig. 2 is a perspec 'vc view of the adjusting ferrule. f

` Fig. 3 is a corresponding sectional view of one of the adjusting screws.

Fig. 4 is a diametral section throughthe adjusting ferrule or spindle.

Fig. 5 .is a perspective view of the connecting link. l j

Infthese drawings, the'illustrated form rof the invention has a stationary jaw 10 and a movable jaw 11, each having rearwardly extending shanks. The shank of the stationary 4j awatits rearend hasa handle extension 12. A' connecting link 13 is formed of two face platestFig. which are joined and spaced by the pivot pins 14, so that the shanksof the movable and stationary jawslO, 11 are received between the faceplates 13. Each ofl the Shanks has a respective notch 15, 16`fon the rear end, i. e., the end opposite the engaging surfaces 29,'to receive the respective pivot pins 14. The jaws are permitted a limited relative lengthwise movement by the j connecting link 13 ywhich forms a rolling hinge connection- A flat blade spring 17 iis secured to the stationaryA jaw 10 and bears against the movable jaw 11 tovr force the engaging surfaces 29 apart.

Each of the jaws is provided with va hole or cavity 18 which diverges inwardly or toward the adjacentfaces of the jaws, and terminates at the outer face of the respective jaw in a widened seat 19 to receive the head 20 of an adjusting screw 21. The head 20 is formed oblongin a plane at .right angles to the axis lof the screw thread, and the seats 19 are correspondingly shaped, so that 'the corresponding screw 21 may rock in the plane of the jaws but cannoty rotate about its axis relative thereto. l

Asshown in Fig. 3, the heads are formed so vthat the cross section taken inv any plane parallel to the :lineof thejaws, i. e., a plane of movement of the corresponding partsof the screws 21 and the threaded spindle sleeve 22, is preferably a'circulararc, so that the .head can rock easily in the respective jan`T` without binding, while the cross sections at a right angle to` these `are oblong to prevent the head from rotating in its seat about the axis of the screw. j

AV sleeve `22 having internally threaded holes at its 'ends .receives thetwo oppositely threaded screws 21; and `is provided 4at its central portion with a thumb disk or nut 23 for adjustment. The sleeve 22 .and screws 21 thus form an adjusting deviceto regulate the distance between the engaging surfaces of the jaws.

yThe handle end 12-of thestationary jaw is provided with a lug 24 which' fits against a surface 25for'medon the movable jaw, whereby to limit a normal relative separation ofthe jaws.

The shank end 30 of the movable 11 is formed to enter a recess 31 locatedin the :direction toward the left in Fig. .1, thus limiting the movement ofthe adjusting device and the connecting link 13 under such c'onditions.A This endl ofthe movable jaw 11isI formed witha cavity 28,` and the bottom of thev recess in the stationary jaw is formed with a similar cavity 27 which serve to receive the ends ofa coil spring 26 which tends to normally force the movable jaw to-` 2 wai-d'the right in 1'.

It will be seen that the adjustingdevice .comprising the sleeve 22 and thescrew 21,

when located'.` at an intermediate position,

that is, at substantiallya right angle with respect to the jaws, will permit the surfaces 29 ofthe jawsto be at a maximum distance apart for theparticular setting of the ad` justing device. VVhenthemovable jaw 111 is moved toward the left against the action of the spring 26, as by engagement about a nut, this adjusting device will be moved Vto an angle other than a right angle, and

thus the jaw surfaces 29 are brought closer together than the maximum separation Vdetermined by the adjusting device. The jaw 11 is limited in its movement toward the left by the engagement of the shank` end of the movable jaw with the stop formed by the projecting `lug 2d, t-hat is, when the portion 30 becomes seated in the recess 31. When the movable jaw 11 is moved toward the right from the intermediate position by the action of spring 26, the adjusting device will likewiserock to an angle other than a right angle with respect to the aws, but this time in the opposite direction, thus bringing the jaws closer together again.

It is preferred-to form the engaging surfaces 29 of both jaws 10 and 11 withpbiting teeth. y

l The operationof the device is as follows: The thumb nut or disk 23: is rotated by the. fingers, thus rotating the syindle 22 with respect to the screws 21 and thus causing the heads 2O of the latter to move closer together or further apart, according to the direction of the rotation of thethumb nut 28. The jaws 10, 111 are thus brought closer together by the pull of the screws and sleeve, or are moved apart by the action of the spring `17, until the jaw surfaces 25) are at the proper distance to engage the article. It willfbe noted that the tapered shape of the cavities 18 permits the jaws, sleeve and screws to move freely. During this preliminary operation, the spring 26 has maintained the mov-able jaw 11 in a right hand or projected position with respect to the showing of Fig. 1, the connecting link 13 rocking to permit this until the rearward end ofthe movable jaw 11 is stopped by its relative downward movement and engagementen the corresponding portion of the stationary jaw l0.

If thedevice is now placed on a nut, a pipe, etc., and the handle 12 forced upward in F 1, the movable jaw will tend to Vmove towardthe left ,jn Fig. 1 toward the retracted position, against the action of the spring 26; and this movement, by the change of angle of the adjusting' device with respect to the jaws, will permit a slightly greater separation of the jaws so that they slip easily` onto the nut or pipe. The connecting link 13 permits this longitudinal movement until the portionBO is seated in the recess,

31; the linkV 13 permits a slight upward movement of the rear end of the movable jaw 11 which during the latter part of this Vmovement operates, in conjunction with the relative longitudinal movement of the aws and the further change of angle of the-adjusting device, to bring the jaw surfaces 29 closer together whereby the nut or pipe is gripped tightly for turning. A reverse movement of the handle 12 will permit the spring 26 to `move the movablejaw so that fthe ad'ustina device asses toward the inter- -yond its intermediate position whereby to cause the jaws to closely engage the nut, ete., and the wrench may now be employed for turning the nut in the opposite direction, i. e., oounterclockwise in Fig. 1. It will be noted that this possibility of operation in either direction is afforded, so that the wrench may be employed Vfor rotating the nut on or off without turning the wrench upside down in passing from one method ofV operation to the other. Since the spring 17 maintains the separation of the jaws at all times, the pivot pinsldand the heads 20 of the screws 21 determine the separation of the jaw surfaces 29.

it is preferred to locate ytherhandle eX- tension 12 with respect to the stationary @and shank so that it is substantially synnnetrical with respect to both jaws when closed, so that a symmetrical appearance is given to the whole.

It is of course' immaterial whether the ,work engaging faces of the jaws are inclined to their shanks, shown in the drawings, or otherwise arranged; or whether the faces are parallel with each other or otherwise arranged. It will be understood 'that the wrench can be used either side up; 4that is, with the movable jaw on top as illustrated, or'with the movable jaw` on the underside.

It is obvious that the invention is notV limited Vto the illustrated form of construction; but that it may be applied in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.`

llVhat is claimed as new is 1. A wrench comprising Vstationary and movable jaws and Shanks, a connecting link pivoted to said shanks and permitting relative lengthwise movement of the jaws between projected and retracted positions, a spring' acting between the jaws and Shanks to move them to the longitudinally projected position, and means to regulate the distance between the engaging surfaces of the jaws.

2. A wrench having stationary and movable jaws, means connecting the vjaws and permitting relative lengthwise movement, and holding the engaging surfaces thereof at regulated distances, a spring engaging and forcing said jaws apart, said means includtive lengthwise movement, .resilient meansl for moving the movable jaw lengthwise of the stationary jaw, said jaws having alined cavities adjacent the engaging surfaces extending through the respective jaw substantially perpendicular to the length of the jaw, and terminating at the outer side of the jaw in an elongated seat, threaded members having elongated heads engaging said seats, and a threaded member cooperating with'the aforesaid threaded membersto regulate the .distance between said jaws whereby to adjust the wrench for different articles. n

4. A wrench having stationary and movable jaws with alined tapered holes therein,

a rolling hinge connection between the rear vends ofthe jaws, inwardly directed screws having` enlarged headsy and located in said holes, and an internally threaded spindle positioned within and between said jaws to cooperate with said screws to limit the separation of said jaws and having a turning means located between said jaws whereby it may. be rotated, the enlarged heads of said screws beingv oblong and having curved inf wardly directed surfaces and being entirely received in similarly shaped enlargements of the outer ends of said holes whereby to prevent rotation of the screws about their respective axes but permitting them to rock relative tok the respective jaw'and to leave the outer faces of the jaws unobstructed,

said screws andsleeve member being adapted to rock in said holes wherebyto permit the relative lengthwise movement of said jaws.

5. A wrench as set forth in claim '4, in which a spring is provided to force the movable jaw into a longitudinally projected position with respect to said fixed jaw.

6. A wrench having stationary and movable jaws, means connecting the rear ends of the jaws to permit lrelative lengthwise movement thereof, interengaging abutting means on said jaws to limit their relative longitudinal movement in one direction, and

an adjusting device connecting said jaws to determine the maximum separatlon of said jaws, said adjusting device permitting a relative lengthwise movement of said jaws and operating at the ends of said movement in Veither direction to cause the jaws to move closer together.

7. A wrench having stationary and movable jaws with alined tapered'holes therein, adjustment means connecting said jaws and permittingA a relative lengthwise movement thereof-while fixing a maximum separation of said jaws, said means comprising devices rockable with said jaws so that in an intermediate position the jaws are at a maximum separation, while in their end positions of relative longitudinal movement the jaws are atea lesser separation, means to connectv the rear ends of said jaws to permit such longitudinal movement, and interengaging f In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JOE s. lMCKIBBON. 

